Mt. Rainier Three Day Workshop, August 20-22, 2019

Mt. Rainier is the icon of the Pacific Northwest. At 14,440 ft, it can be seen from many distant locations throughout Washington, sometimes seen peering just over the horizon where one can sense the curvature of the earth. It’s a photographers paradise in many ways.

In the evening, beautiful light on the mountain from an approaching weather front provided interesting clouds and color over the mountain and warm light on the Tatoosh Range to the south. The meadows were covered with late season wildflowers. Calmness with the occasional call of ravens.

Lovely light near sunset

With gray skies the next morning, and a sprinkle or two, we visited various sections of the cascading Paradise River, photographing a hidden waterfall and the lovely greenery along the river. The rain worked it’s way up the valley, so it was time to retreat to the newly restored and cozy Paradise Lodge. While it poured down, a good session of Adobe Lightroom and Nik Silver Efex was in order. The rain showed no sign of abating, so we headed for dinner with hopes of some clearing the next day.

Starting our exploration of the Paradise River

Morning was calm, with the mountain shrouded in fog and some promise of clearing to the east. Over grassy trails we surveyed the Tipsoo Lake area near Chinook Pass. The sun was shining, with glimpses of the summit of Mt. Rainier. The Sunrise area in the northeastern part of the park is always full of surprises. The clouds graciously parted for some very lovely views of Emmons and Winthrop glaciers and the lovely summit for the final part of the workshop.

Plenty of light and interesting clouds

If you would like to view their workshop images, click here>

Photography and Kayaking in the Bunsby Islands

After a successful adventure in the Jervis Inlet in 2017 with dear friends Lynn Fox and Eric Faucher, they had an interest in 2018 in returning to the Bunsby Islands, located on the northwest side of Vancouver Island near the Brooks Peninsula, British Columbia, Canada.

Remote locations are something that promise beauty and a certain amount of vulnerability to the elements and other unknowns. Traveling with experienced friends helps in innumerable ways. It's enjoyable and relaxing to feel like you are tagging along to an area that is new to you but well known to them.

Lynn and Eric with a friend

Getting to the Bunsby Islands is quite a trek from Portland, Oregon. Making the travel more pleasant is the extensive ferry services in the U.S. and in British Columbia. Avoidance of the densely populated areas of Tacoma/Seattle makes a better and more interesting experience and extends the time spent on and near the water. The drive up the west side of Hood Canal and then ferry over to Whidbey Island, with just 40 miles of freeway over the border to Tsawwassen, BC is ideal.

Sunset at Deception Pass, Washington

I met Lynn and Eric in Campbell River. We traveled north towards Port Hardy then west on a very challenging logging road across Vancouver Island to Fair Harbour. Lingering smoke and a few firefighters were around from lightning fires right along the road. We met our water taxi host, Leo Jack, a Kyuquot tribal member with a lot of experience and many stories to share. He transported us past his village, weaving around islands and sea otters to Barney Island in the Bunsbys.

Morning transport with our Water Taxi Host Leo Jack

Barney Island is such a great location we thought we would stay for a few days and use it as a base camp for exploration. The air has a fresh, almost perfumed, cedar like scent. One night we were awoken at 4:30a by the sound of wolves howling back and forth right in our camp area. I got up to take a look with a bright, waning gibbous moon surrounded by a giant, mysterious looking ring.  I didn't see them, but it's possible they saw me.

A rainy day, deep in the wilds of an inlet

Sea Otter resting-and watching me-very attentively

Sunset on Barney Island

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Our next camp was closer to open ocean, with clear turquoise water, a beautiful small sand beach, with the occasional otter floating by. We were alone in this most quiet and peaceful place.

Idyllic campsite with sand and driftwood

One of the best photography days started early with a beautiful sunrise.

Sunrise over Vancouver Island

 We also had remarkably calm conditions on the open ocean to photograph a very interesting islet with beautiful kelp, clouds, rocks and the wind and sea battered trees. We circumnavigated this islet for various angles and interesting compositions.

Islet with Bull Kelp, from the west

An Otter's view of this lovely Bull Kelp

Islet with Kelp and Spruce Trees,  from the north

Photographic success was also complimented by fishing success, with Eric catching some nice cod for dinner.

 That evening we were entertained by a quite spectacular view of the Milky Way, with bright Mars in the south.

Milky Way and Mars from our campsite beach

With a threatening forecast, we needed to head somewhere more protected, so we circuitously returned to Barney Island. Saw some bear scat on the north part of the island, but no bears.

One can expect to have any kind of weather here, and we did have a bit of everything, with many fair and pleasant days. Storms were moving in, so we had to hunker down. Sure enough, the wind and rain made an appearance, and it was time to retreat. Leo found a small window between storms and came to get us and return us safely to Vancouver Island.

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Addendum

Although the Bunsbys were spectacular in many respects, there were not many sea birds. Another area that contains fond memories over many years is the Puget Sound and San Juan Island region of Washington. After camping at Larabee State Park on my way home from the Bunsbys, I made a morning stop on the Lummi Reservation just west of Bellingham to dry out some gear and look for bird photography possibilities. One memory is having my first NW oysters here, gathered on Portage Island in 1977 after moving from Wisconsin in 1975.

Comical Black Oystercatchers near Lummi Island, San Juan Islands.

A collection of photographs may be seen here>

Winter Storm at Hug Point

Large storm waves are a grand attraction on the Pacific and can make for drama and also danger. These are not really "sneaker" waves in this context. It's simply a continual powerhouse of surge, current and beauty. These waves are so large they actually break on the reefs far off shore, so the ocean has the appearance of a gigantic washing machine of chaos.

One of my favorite places is Hug Point in all weather. No tourists dragging their coolers and umbrellas at this time of year. It's also high tide, so the dynamics are in full swing.

My main "position" is approaching the beautiful falls of Falls Creek from the highway, descending wet vegetation and mud. This platform before the creek makes it's final leap to the beach is roughly 15 feet high. A great view but can, at times, feel like it is not high enough. Occasionally there are logs perched on the ledge at the top of the falls, and then swept away.

Surging water from the north

The drama of water surging, tossing logs like they are matchsticks, shows the power and beauty of water.

Surging water from the south

Transforming clouds, changing their shapes and patterns.

The sun peaks through the maelstrom

A much higher platform and a grand view of the waves and their power.

Safely above the turmoil

The waves full force

Kayaking in Dream Land

Over the years, when taking the ferry from Earl's Cove to Saltery Bay on Jervis Inlet in the resplendent Coast Mountains of British Columbia, there is an area that looked ideal for exploration by kayak; Hotham Sound. Much of this area has dodged many of the ravages of resource extraction and has a reputation of calm and warm water, surrounded by granite peaks, forest and a 300 meter waterfall. What could be better.

Experiences like this are often solo adventures, but on this trip friends and fellow kayakers Lynn Fox and Eric Faucher joined me at Skookumchuck Inlet (famous for its tidal surge further up the Inlet) to explore this area. They brought a calm, very experienced and spirited sense of adventure, and had prepared an amazing menu. What a luxury.

Heading across Jervis Inlet

 We left on a warm clear day, with a building westerly wind. One aspect of many of these inlets are the steep rock walls and very few places to stop. Local knowledge is a big asset here. After deciding the wind was getting the better of us, we headed up Jervis Inlet to stay in a nice location for two nights.

The weather was calm and clear as we headed to Hotham Sound. After a bit of a search we found a great location with a nice stream nearby. Lynn prepared another fine meal and we photographed the Milky Way.

Southern Milky Way over Jervis Inlet

Kayaking here was a dream. We had calm waters, beautiful light, a great little storm, and more stars in the moonless evenings.

Approaching Storm

Beautiful Morning Light

In the entire trip, we didn't see any other kayakers  and very few boats went by. It's great to have a home base and simply explore an area. We really only scratched the surface and will certainly return to this fantastic area, off the beaten path.

Spring Moments near Quileute, Washington

The headlands are usually the last to relinquish their fog from the warming sun. It's best to try to get out early when the weather is good, as it may be gone in just an hour. I saw that it was already dissipating as I walked to one of my favorite and oft visited areas over many years. It's a place of solitude and beauty.

In spring this area is truly a wild place, where few visitors are seen. The weather is capricious and one has to be careful with the wave and surge action, especially when completely alone.

The sun was blazing but the fog held. Tide was approaching, so I had my back to the waves, which always makes me a little more than nervous. It was amazing. The sun through the trees was splitting the light into many fragments. I took a few photographs of the rays. Then  I moved back (closer to those waves) so a light curtain of beams covered the shore. It was magic and unusual.

Beautiful Light Beams

Another day I was kayaking with a friend on the Quillayute River near La Push on another beautiful sunny day. After taking photographs of at least 20 eagles, we took a break and were presented with these radiating cirrus clouds right over Little James Island. Flowers were blooming. It was Spring in full measure.

Waves forming a V and Radiating Clouds

 Link to more photographs on my website>